Every once in awhile, an athlete comes along who can catch lightning in a bottle and impress you to the degree that can make you, well, write a blog about them.

We are talking about Kasey McCravey, a junior shortstop for Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s softball team.

She is an impact player, and quite possibly the best in the state at her position or any other position. I obviously have not seen every player, but it would be difficult task for someone to do much more.

In Desert Mountain’s 3-2 loss to Phoenix Pinnacle on Wednesday, McCravey had the biggest impact on defense. She is acrobatic and athletic.

With one out and a runner at first in the second inning she fielded a sharp ground ball toward the second-base bag, stepped on the bag and jumped above the runner to throw the runner out at first.

She made several other athletic plays.

She is the Wolves’ leadoff hitter, and began the fourth inning with a triple to the fence in right field. She showed good speed and baserunning, sliding into third and getting spiked on the arm in the process. A trainer stopped the bleeding, wrapped the gash and McCravey returned to action.

According to MaxPreps, she was hitting .442 with 42 hits, 36 runs and 26 RBIs entering Wednesday’s play.

Desert Mountain coach Rick Sharp recalled the first time he saw McCravey.

“We were at a seventh-grade game at one of our middle schools and one of the coaches came up and said, “You ought to come and take a look at this girl. She might just be your next shortstop,’ ’’ Sharp said. “He was right. There was no doubt.’’

Arizona State has a shortstop who was an All-State player in Katelyn Boyd (Phoenix Horizon), and McCravey has the potential to be every bit as good. Boyd has a bit more power. But McCravey might be faster and at least equal on defense. And she has another year to go.

You never know what can happen during that time. A player can continue to rise or flame out. My guess is that it will be the former rather than the latter with McCravey. If ASU or Arizona can find a scholarship somewhere, perhaps they should set it aside for her.